Slide fasteners



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Oct. 6, 1959 H. HANSEN 2,907,088

sum: FASTENERS Fileq June 21. 1956 l N VEN TOR HA /em Hwvsflv wh raw ATTORNEYS SLIDE FASTENERS- Harry Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark Application June 21, 1956, Serial No. 592,915

Claims priority, application Denmark January 16,, 1956 17 Claims. (Cl. 24-20513).

This invention relates to a slide fastener of the type in which each row of coupling links is made in one piece from a continuous ribbon or thread running fromend to end of the slide fastener. Slide fasteners of this type are particularly suitable for manufacture from non-metallie material such as celluloid, pyraline, hard rubber and plastic materials such as nylon, polyvinyl chloride and polythene.

' In known slide fasteners of this type, the rows of coupling links are made in the form of coils of a generally helical or spiral shape. It has been found, however, that some difliculties are encountered in making such coils engage securely and reliably with one another. Attempts have been made at avoiding this disadvantage by using ribbon or thread of a special cross sectional shape which is twisted differently in the different points of the convolutions of the coil, or by making each of the rows of coupling links from a plurality of ribbons or threads twisted together. Both these methods are rather complicated and expensive to carry out, and the rate of production is correspondingly low. Besides, the results are not entirely satisfactory. Thus, in the case of sharp bending of the slide fastener at right angles to its plane, there is a danger that the engagement between the rows of coupling links may be loosened to such an extent that the coupling links formed by the convolutions of the coil will be likely to slip out of engagement.

It is an object of the present invention to construct a slide fastener of the general type set forth, in which the described drawback is considerably reduced or entirely eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to construct a slide fastener of the described type, in which the rows of coupling links can be produced in a simple manner and at a relatively high rate of production and will still provide a satisfactory engagement in the finished slide fastener.

A further object of the invention is to construct a slide fastener of the type concerned, in which a satisfactory engagement between the coupling links is obtainable without having to resort to complicated arrangements and configurations of a coil forming one of the rows of coupling links of the slide fastener.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a slide fastener of the type set forth, in which the structure formed by the rows of coupling links, when in their mutually engaged positions, takes a configuration such as to lend itself for ready and reliable engagement of a prong or similar engaging member of a slide associated with the two rows of coupling links for the purpose of forming an automatic stop or locking means, by which the slide can be securely held in any position to which it is slid along the rows of coupling links.

With these and other objects in view, there is provided, according to the invention, a slide fastener of the general type above described in which one row of coupling links is in the form of a coil while the other row is in the form of a non-coiled serpentine-like structure having bends nited States Patent ice or loops for engagement between the convolutions -of said coil.

In. a slide fastener constructed in this manner, there will be a natural mutual locking between the rows of coupling members against disengagement perpendicularly to the plane of the slide fastener, because in the engaged position the bends or loops of the non-coiled serpentinelike structure will be located'between the inclined flank portions of the coil structure. Consequently, a reliable engagement between the two rows of coupling links will be preserved even if the slide fastener is sharply bent perpendicularly to its plane. Moreover, as contrasted to a. coil structure, it is relatively simple to construct a serpentine-like structure with any desired profile of the coupling links as projected on the plane of the slide fastener, and therefore the coupling links formed by the loops of the serpentine-like structure can be designed so as to secure, a very reliable engagement between the convolutions of the coil structure against forces tending to. pull the two rows of coupling links apart in the plane of the slide fastener. As. an example, the bends or loops of the serpentine-like structure may be constructed with undercut shape which would not be possible with coupling links formed by the convolutions of a coil. A fun ther advantage of the combined structure provided according to the invention is that the loops of the serpentinelike structure, when engaged between the convolutions. of the coil structure, will leave the flank portions of the latter entirely free so that these may be used for the engagement of a prong or the like of the slide by means of which the two rows of coupling links are engaged with and disengaged from one another during use of the slide fastener, thereby to provide a simple and reliable automatic stop or locking means for the slide.

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows, on a strongly exaggerated scale, one form of a slide fastener according to the invention as viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the slide fastener, and

Fig. 2 is a cross section through same.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a slide fastener in which one row of coupling links consists of a ribbon or thread I wound in the form of a coil while the other row of coupling links consists of a ribbon or thread 2 made in the form of a flat serpentine-like structure. In the example shown, the coil is made from a ribbon or a thread of circular cross section, but any other suitable cross section may be used. Instead of being wound in the form of a substantially cylindrical helix or spiral, as illustrated, this row or thread 1 may also be wound in a coil of any other suitable cross sectional shape such as an oblong cross section rounded at the ends. The coil may, in a manner known per se, be constructed to have its angle of pitch varying along the circumference of each individual convolution, and if a ribbon or thread of noncircular cross section is used, this may be twisted to a varying degree within each individual convolution. If desired, the coil maybe composed of two or more intertwined ribbons or threads.

The thread 2, in the example illustrated in the drawing, has a rectangular cross section with the greatest dimension perpendicular to the plane of the slide fastener. Alternatively, a ribbon or thread of circular cross sectional shape may be used or again the cross section may be oblong with rounded ends. A cross section having its greatest dimension perpendicular to the plane of the slide fastener is preferred where it is desirable to obtain maximum side stability of the row of coupling links formed by the serpentine-like structure. On the other hand, a circular cross section is preferable where flexibility and softness is the principal concern.

As is apparent from Fig. 1, the serpentine-like strucwide outward loops or bends 4 formed as base loops and substantially flat inward loops or bends 5 as actually straight engaging portions which latter, however, are widened at their ends facing the opposite row of coupling links to form heads or head loops 3 so that the inward loops or bends as a whole assume an undercut shape which is very suitable for securing'a firm and reliable engagement between the convolutions of the coil. It will be seen that in the engaged position of the slide fastener, the heads or head loops 3 of the serpentine-like structure are located between the side flanks 6 of the convolutions of the coil so as to be reliably secured against disengagement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the slide fastener. Even in the case of relatively great deformations, such as may occur when the slide fastener is sharply bent perpendicularly to its plane, this engagement may be preserved so that it will in fact require violence to disturb the engagement. Preferably, to ensure this reliable engagement, the width of the loops of the serpentine, as measured perpendicularly to the plane of the slide fastener, should be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the coil. In Fig. 2, said width is illustrated as being slightly smaller than said inner diameter, but it might also be slightly greater. Still, as is also seen in Fig. 2, the side flanks of the coil extend beyond the side flanks of the serpentine in a lateral direction. Consequently there will be free intervals present between the side flanks of the convolutions of the coil which intervals can be used for the engagement of the prong of an automatic stopping or locking arrangement provided on the slide (not shown), which serves to engage and disengage the two rows of coupling links in well known manner.

Seeing that in the zone of engagement between the serpentine and the coil the portions of the convolutions of the ribbon or thread 1 present in this zone do not extend perpendicularly to the plane of the slide fastener, but an inclination thereto, corresponding to the angle of pitch of the coil, it will be preferable to construct the inward bends or loops of the serpentine with a similar inclination which means that e.g. the ribbon or thread 2 would be twisted in such a manner that the longest dimension of the cross section would no longer be perpendicular to the plane of the slide fastener, but directed at an inclination thereto.

Each of the rows of coupling links may be sewed to a tape or stringer according to the principles which are ordinarily used in the art for slide fasteners of the general type here considered, or in any other suitable manner. The form of the tape or stringer and the manner of connecting this with the rows of coupling links does not form part of this invention, nor does the construction and arrangement of the slide which may, if desired,- be organized in altogether conventional manner.

I claim:

1. Slide fastener for interconnecting two edges comprising a coiled filament secured to one edge and forming convolutions of the coil as one coupling element, and an engaging element secured to the other edge forming the opposite coupling element and eing in the form of a serpentine undulated in the coupling plane and provided with free windings with preformed heads which engage between the convolutions. of the coil when the coupling elements are in the engaged position.

2. Slide fastener according to claim 1, in which said free windings have flanks so that the backs thereof lie close together behind each head.

3. Slide fastener for interconnecting two edges comprising a non-metallic coiled filament secured to one edge and forming convolutions of the coil as one coupling element, and a non-metallic engaging element forming the opposite coupling element and consisting of a filament which is undulated in the form of a serpentine in the coupling plane and is provided i free bends each with a preformed head engaging between the convolutions of the coiled filament when the coupling elements are in the engaged position.

4. Slide fastener according to claim 3, in which the backs of the flanks of the free bends of the serpentine engaging element are adjacent to each other behind each head.

5. Slide fastener according to claim 1, in which the filament and the engaging element are each integral and formed as a continuous member.

6. Slide fastener according to claim 1, in which the filament is circular in cross section and the element is rectangular in cross section.

7. A slide fastenerfor interconnecting two edges comprising a coiled filament secured to one of said edges with the convolutions of said coiled filament constituting one coupling element and an engaging element constituting the opposite coupling element and comprising a filament undulated in the form of a serpentine in the coupling plane to provide alternating inner and outer bends, said outer bends being secured to the second edge and said inner bends being free, each of said inner bends having an enlarged head thereon for engaging between the convolutions of said coiled filament when said coupling elements are engaged.

8. A slide fastener as defined in claim 7, wherein said head comprises an enlargement in said inner bend only in the coupling plane, said enlargement exceeding the distance between adjacent convolutions.

9. A slide fastener as defined in claim 7, wherein the thickness of said head transverse to the coupling plane is substantially the same as the inner diameter of said convolutions.

10. A slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein the inner bends comprise abutting portions of said serpentine filament.

11. A slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein said serpentine filament has an oblong cross-sectional shape with its longest dimension extending at an angle to a direction perpendicular to the plane of the slide fastener substantially corresponding to the angle of pitch of said coiled filament.

12. Slide fastener according to claim 1, in which the filament and the engaging element are each integral and formed as a continuous member and are composed of a non-metallic material.

13. A slide fastener as defined in claim 7, wherein said filaments are each flexible and non-metallic.

14. A slide fastener for interconnecting two edges comprising a coiled filament secured to one edge and forming convolutions of the coil as one coupling element, and an engaging filament secured to the other edge forming the opposite coupling element and being in the form of a serpentine, said sepentine engaging element being composed of a series of base loops forming the securing portions to the other edge and a series of head loops interconnected by flat and substantially straight engaging portions, and each pair of following base loops having a straight portion in direct engagement with each other and extending to form the head loop for said engaging straight portions whereby in the engaged position of the filaments each pair of following engaging straight portions being spaced to engage a coil of the coiled filament with the distance of each pair of following head loops being spaced from each other an amount which is smaller than the thickness of the coiled filament.

15. A slide fastener for interconnecting two edges comprising a coiled filament secured to one edge and forming convolutions of the coil as one coupling element with the filament having a round configuration in cross section, and an engaging filament secured to the other edge forming the opposite coupling element and having a rectangular configuration in cross section with a serpentine form in side elevation, said engaging element being composed of a plurality of base loops secured to the said other edge and a series of head loops interconnected to the base loops by straight engaging portions with two engaging portions from each head loop in direct contact with each other whereby in the engaged position of the filaments each two engaging portions being spaced to engage a coil of the coiled filament with the distance of each pair of following head loops being spaced from each other an amount which is smaller than the diameter of the coiled filament.

16. In a slide fastener, a pair of continuous filaments to be coupled to opposite edges to be secured together and of which one filament is in the form of a spiral coil as a cylindrical member of convolutions and the other filament being in the form of a serpentine comprising a series of interconnected loops as head loops and base loops undulated in the coupling plane with the base loops connecting the second-mentioned filament to its edge, said second-mentioned filament being composed of spaced head loops interconnected to the base loops by straight portions integral with the loops and each pair of following base loops having two straight portions in contact with each other to merge into and form a head loop, and each base loop receiving therein a convolution of the first-mentioned filament in the closed position of the fastener with said convolution between two following pairs of two straight portions.

17. In a slide fastener, a pair of continuous filaments to be secured to opposite edges to be secured together and of which one filament is in the form of a spiral coil as a cylindrical member of convolutions and the other filament being in a plane in the form of a series of interconnected loops as head loops and base loops with the base loops connecting the second-mentioned filament to its edge, said second-mentioned filament being composed of spaced head loops interconnected to the base loops by straight portions integral with the loops and each pair of following base loops having two straight portions in contact with each other to merge into and form a head loop, and each base loop receiving therein a convolution of the first-mentioned filament in the closed position of the fastener with said convolution between two following pairs of two straight portions and two following head loops being spaced from each other in the closed position of the fastener, a distance which is smaller than the distance between the following pairs of two straight portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,848 Blair Sept. 30, 1930 1,801,324 Blair Apr. 21, 1931 2,296,880 Smith Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 139,408 Austria Nov. 10, 1934 515,647 Italy Feb. 16, 1955 

